Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Letter Biography Historical Article[Dr. Jaime Pi-Suñer Bayo (1903-2000): The beginning of the School of Medical Physiology in Chile].
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Review[Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Risk Factors & Protective Measures].
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BD) is a severe mental pathology characterized by recurrent mood episodes that usually cycle between two opposite poles: mania or hypomania and depression. It has a high level of morbidity/mortality (i.e., cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, altered functionality, and absenteeism from work) and associated substantial socioeconomic costs. The most dramatic outcome is death by suicide, which occurs in 5% to 15% of patients. ⋯ It is essential to determine the disease's risk and specific protective factors to prevent its occurrence, delay its appearance, and reduce its deterioration effects. Characteristics such as genetic profile, cognitive reserve (partially explained by educational level and premorbid intelligence), chronotype (particularly morning chronotype), personality aspects (including resilience and hyperthymic temperament), the absence of substance use and childhood maltreatment, in addition to an adequate support network, have been associated with a lower impact in the onset and course of the disease. Once present, interventions -both in the early and late stages (i.e., specific pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, dietary factors, physical activity, and judicious use of antipsychotics)-can play a protective role against the appearance of the disease and the severity of its mood episodes.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Multicenter Study[Assessing Convalescent Plasma Efficacy in Moderate COVID-19 Hospitalizations: A Bicentric Retrospective Study].
COVID-19 claimed millions of lives, mainly in the pre-vaccine era. Preliminary studies showed promising efficacy of convalescent plasma against SARS-CoV-2 (CP). ⋯ The use of CP in patients hospitalized for moderately severe COVID-19 was not associated with lower mortality, hospital stay, or the need for IMV.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Comparative Study[Prevalence of nasal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in medical students in Chile: comparison between pre-clinical and clinical environment].
The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nasal colonization of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in medical students in pre-clinical versus clinical courses at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and to describe the epidemiological, clinical and molecular pattern of the MRSA strains obtained. ⋯ The MRSA nasal carriage found in our medical students was low, finding positive samples only in students with clinical exposure. This prevalence is similar to the one reported in other studies in Chile with similar characteristics.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Comparative Study[Stage at diagnosis of prostate cancer in an institutional hospital. Review and comparison of national and international data].
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a disease with a high prevalence and incidence worldwide. Screening has pursued the early diagnosis of this disease to provide early treatment. We sought to characterize patients from a local hospital with respect to diagnosis and staging and to compare these results with previously reported data. ⋯ The stage at diagnosis in our series is somewhat higher than that reported by developed countries but considerably lower than that published by other Latin American countries and even from other hospitals in our country. It is of great national relevance to have clear protocols for screening and access to PSA to reduce the cases diagnosed in advanced stages.